28 — Wednesday, May 27, 1992 - North Shore News seedy detective Flesh Wound, by Paul Grescoe Published by Douglas & Mcintyre 214 pp., $24.95 hardcover AUL GRESCOE'S Flesh Wound is a fast-paced mystery novel set in our own backyard of Van- couver and the North Shore. The hero, Dan Rudnicki, origi- nally an insurance investigator, turns private detective when the sex-crazed starlet of a locally pro- duced film is found brutally murdered on Wreck Beach. The producer hires Rudnicki to find a particular hooker who will provide him with an alibi for the night in question, The author takes us into the world of film-making where we meet a rogue’s gallery of suspects: an alcoholic, blackmailing publici- ty man; a lustful director; and an unhinged scriptwriter. Despite the lack of tinseltown glitz and glamor, Grescoe’s setting bolsters the myth of Vancouver as “Hollywood North.” Rudnicki’s main hunt, however, leads into the sordid underworld of prostitutes and pimps as he tracks down the hooker Georgia — or is it George? For at the book’s heart is the subject of transsexuals: the fear of those who do not want to be revealed, and the emotional and physical pain of those who wish and work for gender change. The reader may well learn more than he or she ever wanted to know about the actual hormonal and surgical details involved — the phrase, ‘‘flesh wound,” is lent whole new meanings. The author more than once im- plies that the withdrawal of gov- ernment medical coverage for gender change surgery is partly responsible for the sexual ex- ploitation and degradation of transsexuals, who need huge sums of money for treatment, especially for those who were left in gender limbo, part way between man- woman, or woman-man when funding was withdrawn. While certain events may churn the stomach, Grescoe has a great style that carries the reader along, JennAir OAL UGA In Review LOOKS AT BOOKS sometimes in spite of himself. Bet- ter known for two books on the corporate world and as a marginal writer, Grescoe’s Flesh Wound is a bold departure. Grescce has a refreshing eye for the familiar. We see West Van- couver ‘‘sprawling like some high-class courtesan on the flanks of the North Shore mountains,” or the public safety building (the cop shop on Main Street) which is “conveniently located a short lurch down the block from its clients, the junkies and winos ... who haunt Hastings Street.” And if you love puns, you can’t do better than “The town is get- ting too big for its bridges,’’ a description of the car-clogged tions Gate Bridge. Or of a visiting prostitute, ‘‘] knew Simone well enough to realize she'd be sleep- ing in after a hard night at the ori- fice.” Our hero is definitely a man for Saie ends May 31st, 1992 | Cellular + BONUS hone with racket ek, " KIU SEPEHRI 18 Yrs. Experience 293- i311, technolo story unfolds in Vancouver the ’90s: intelligent, sensitive, nur- series featuring Rudnicki. turing (the single parent of two pubescent girls). In addition, he is Ukrainian with Jewish in-laws, which just about covers all multicultural bases. Flesh Wound is the first in a This is a good, fast read for some summer beach, except maybe Wreck Beach. ~ by Z. Ferman, a North Van- couver resident, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO ANNOUNCE THAT DURING OUR SPECIAL SALE FROM MAY 22 TO MAY 31, ‘92 YOU WILL RECEIVE A FREE MOUNTAIN BIKE WITH THE PURCHASE OF ANY NEW GEO OR CAVALIER. 1 WOULD LIKE TO INVITE ALL MY FRIENDS { & CUSTOMERS TO CONTACT ME. 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